19/06/2014

Lowest Recorded Figures Of Women Smoking During Pregnancy

The Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) has said figures show a year-fall of 12.7% in the number of women smoking during pregnancy in England, indicating the lowest level on record.

Rates have fallen 15.1% since 2006-2007 with a steady year-on-year decline up until the most recent figures.

Figures vary depending on region, with a 5.1% rate in London compared to a 20.6% in Durham, Darlington and Tees.

Women smoking during pregnancy can damage babies' hearts and increase the risk of miscarriage and premature birth.

The government has set a target to reduce figures to 11% less women smoking at the time of delivery by 2015.

However, smoking prevalence varied amongst the area teams from 1.9% in NHS Central London and NHS Richmond to 27.5% in NHS Blackpool.

The chair of the HSCIC Alan Kingsley said that it was "encouraging" to see the decline in numbers of pregnant women who smoke but he recognised: "There is still a little way to go to achieve the national ambition.”

(CVS/IT)

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